The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-18
CONGRESSIONAL.



MARCH 2.-In the Senate tine naval appro-
priation bill was passed. 1t strikes out the
House provision for two swift dOuble-bOt-
toned steel cruisers and four gun boats, all
to cost exclusive OF arinament) not more
than S4,950, 900, and inserts in lieu thereof q
section providing for the construction by
contract of six protected steel cruisers with
suitable armament and q speed OF not less
than twenty knots, the cost of all the cruisers
not to exceed S9,0O0,000 Additional apprO-
prIatiOns are made for machinery and arina-
ment. one of the vessels to be built on the
Pacific coast and two on or near the coast OF
the gulf of Mexico. For every quarter knot
of speed over twenty knots the contractor Is
to receive $4,000, and for every quarter
knot under twenty knots $4,000 will be de-
Quoted from the contract price.
Further appropriations were made as fol-
lows. For the construction of heavily
armOred vessels or armOred floating batteries
or rams to be used for coast and harbOr de-
Tense, $4,000 900: for the construction of
light-draught gunboats, suitable for interior
waterways and canal service, $780, 600: for
the construction of torpedo boats OF the
highest attainable speed and efficiency,
$500, 0c0 for torpedOes and other explosives
and torpedo appliances to be operated from
naval vessels, floating batteries, or rams,
$3.50, 0OO, of which sum $4,000 shall be i'm
mediately available; for the armament OF
these vessels, 81, 500 900. These apprOpria-
tions are to be available during five years.
MARCH 4.-1he Senate reassembled, as in
continuation of Yesterdays session, at 10
o'clock this morning. Mr.. HOar stated that
by holding back the Appropriation bills both
the Senate and House were compelled in the
closing hours of the session to submit TO the
dictation of three or four members OF the
House committee on appropriations. he
also complained that the speaker had re-
Gently refused to recognize q member de-
string to make q motion or which the chair
disapproyed. The Kentucky Senator's
promptly rose to defend Speaker Carlisle
from the charge OF usurpatiOn OF power.
At the evening session MIR. Plumb pre-
sented the conference report on the bill to
adjust railroad and land grants heretofore
unadjusted. Agreed to.
Mr.. Hale, at 2:2O q. M. made confer
ence report on the naval appropriations bill.
lie explained that the report of apprOpra-
ton in the bill now lin addition to running
expenses of the Department. amounted to
between 81, 000, 900 and So, O00, 900 for what
might be called new observation-disclosures
of the navy. It comprehended four new
vessels and So, 900 for floating batteries
and other structures for harbor defenses;
also So 500,0 900 for work on vessels already
begun, q little more than So, 000, 600 for work
on monitors, and $4,000,000 for armOr plate
and gun steel or forgings.
The report was agreed to-
MARCH AT O'clock this morning Mr..
Plumb, from the conference committee on
the District of Columbia appropriation bill,
reported that the committee had been I'M
able TO agree. He moved that the Senate
insist on its disagreement, and ask further
conference. So ordered.
The deficiency bill being again taken up,
an item ION motion Of Mr.. Dawes) was In
serted to pay to the Choctaw Indians 81, $751;
600 the amount Of judgment of the SUI
preme court at the October term, 1885.
Finally the bill and amendments were re-
ported to the Senate.
The Senate, at 8 q. m, on motion of Mr..
HOar, went into secret session.
two hours recess. The first business done
was the presentation by Mr.. Plumb of the
conference report on the Dftrict Of Colum-